Hinge joint



Sept. 3, 1957 ZAVADA 2,804,641

HINGEFI JOINT Filed July 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR FRANK J.ZAVADA his A fforney F. J. ZAVADA HINGE JOINT Sept. 3, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1955 FRANK J. Z.AVADA BY I his Afro/nayUnited States Patent HINGE JOINT Frank J. Zavada, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application July 22, 1955, Serial No. 523,869

6 Claims. (Cl. 16-173) This invention relates to a hinge joint forconnecting two members and more particularly for a hinge for supportinga door. Many different types of joints have been developed but most ofthem are difficult to fabricate and assemble and in most cases the partsare not interchangeable.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a hinge joint inwhich the parts are easily formed by extrusion.

Another object is to provide a hinge joint in which the two main partsthereof are easily assembled.

Still another object is to provide a hinge joint in which the two mainparts are similar and interchangeable.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawings, drawn to scale in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an assembled hinge joint of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top view of one of the hinge members shown inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hinge joint of Figure 1 showingthe parts ready for assembly;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Figure 3, butshowing the parts in a different phase of their assembly;

Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 1, showing a modification thereof;

Figure 6 is an enlarged top view of one of the hinge members shown inFigure 5;

Figure 7 is a view, similar to Figure 1, showing a further modification;

Figure 8 is an enlarged top view of one of the hinge members of Figure7;

Figure 9 is a view, similar to Figure 7, showing a modification thereof;and

Figure 10 is an enlarged top view of one of the hinge members of Figure9.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings thereference numeral 2 indicates the two hinge members making up a hingejoint. The hinge joint may be part of any structural member such as adoor, window, panel, wall, endless conveyor, etc. Each hinge member 2includes a web 4, an arcuate leg 6 and a second leg 8. The second leg 8has a generally triangular portion 10 at its outer end which isconnected to the web 4 by means of an intermediate portion 12. The outerend or side 14 of the triangular portion 10 is concave. The side 16 ofthe intermediate portion 12 facing the leg 6 is convex and shaped toreceive the outer end 14. The distance 18 between legs 6 and 8 issufiicient to receive the triangularly shaped outer portion 10 of theother hinge member. The inner face 20 of leg 6 is essentially circularwith its axis through point 22. The members 2 may be extruded orotherwise formed and then assembled either by moving them transverselyor axially together. In many instances it is desirable to assemble themembers by moving them transversely and the construction shown isdesirable for this purpose. The members 2 are movable from the full "Beeline position shown in Figure 1 through an angle of approximately 60 tothe broken line position. In order to prevent the members 2 fromseparating a screw 24 may be screwed into side 26 of triangular portion10 of one of the members 2.

When the hinge joint is used in a vertical position it is desirable toprovide means for preventing longitudinal movement between the members2. One such means is shown in Figures 3 and 4. As shown, a generallyspherically shaped opening 28 is formed in each of the members 2 in theleg 8 and a second smaller generally spherically shaped opening 30 isformed in the leg 6. When the two members 2 are assembled the openings28 and 30 form a pocket having a radius slightlygreater than the radiusof ball 32 which is received therein. In assembly the ball 32 is set inthe hole 28 of one of the members 2 and the other member 2 is movedtransversely into assembly therewith as described above. A screw 34 maythen be threaded at an angle into one of the legs 8 until its end abutsagainst the ball 32 for preventing separation of the members 2. Othermeans such as a simple flange extending from one member 2 under theother member 2 may be used to prevent relative longitudinal movementbetwen members 2.

By changing the dimensions of the members 2 the amount of rotationtheerof may be varied. Figures 5 and 6 show an arrangement where themembers 2' may rotate through an angle of In these figures the webs areomitted and the parts are indicated by priming the numbers indicatingthe corresponding parts in Figures 1 and 2.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 7 and 8, two similarhinge members 42 are assembled in a longitudinal direction to form ahinged joint. Each hinge member includes a web 44, an arcuate leg 46 anda second leg 48. The second leg 48 has a generally triangular portion 50at its outer end which is connected to the web 44 by means of anintermediate portion 52 which is made up of an arcuate portion 54 of thesame general shape as leg 46 and a generally radial portion 56. Theouter end or side 58 of the triangular portion 50 is concave. The side60 of the portion 56 facing leg 46 is convex and shaped to receive theouter end 58. The members 42 are of such shape as to be readilyextrudable. It will be seen that the members 42 cannot be separatedtransversely and when required means similar to that used in my firstembodiment may be used to prevent relative longitudinal movementtherebetween. The members 42 are movable from the solid line portionshown in Figure 7 through an angle of approximately 120 to the brokenline portion.

By changing the diameter of the members 42 the amount of rotationthereof may be varied. Figures 9 and 10 show an arrangement where themembers 42 may rotate through an angle of approximately In these figuresthe parts are indicated by priming the numbers indicating thecorresponding parts in Figures 7 and 8. The members 42' also differ fromthe members 42 in several additional respects. The web 44' of one of themembers 42' is located at the end of the arcuate leg 46' in order toform a hinge which will permit movement of a door through an angle of180. It will be understood that in some instances the web 44' may beomitted entirely. The generally triangular portion 50' is provided witha slight depression 62 which is adapted to receive a correspondingprojection 64 located on the triangular portion 50' in operatingrelationship thereto. The portions 62 and 64 are provided to aid inpreventing separation of the parts.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, itwill be apparent that other adaptations 3 and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A hinge joint comprising two similar and inter@ changeable members,each of said members. including an arcuate leg, a second leg spaced fromsaid arcuate leg, and means connecting said legs at their inner ends,said legs being spaced apart at their outer ends with the second leg ofeach member being received between the legs of the other member, each ofsaid second legs having a generally triangularly shaped outer portion.

2. A hinge joint according to claim 1 in which the said second leg hasan intermediate portion between the for preventing transverse separationof said members and means for preventing relative longitudinal movementof said members.

5. A hinge joint according to claim 2 in which the intermediate portionof said second leg includes an arcuate portion shaped generally like thefirst leg with the first leg bearing thereagainst and a generally radialportion extending between the arcuate portion and the triangularlyshaped outer portion.

connecting means and the triangularly shapedouter por- I tion, the sideof said intermediate portion facing the first leg being shaped toreceive the outer end of said triangular portion of the second leg ofthe other member, and the said outer end of said triangular portionbeingconcave.

3. A hinge joint according toclaim 2 in which the distance between thelegs of each member at their outer ends is suflicient to receive thetriangularly shaped outer portion therebetween. V

4. A hinge joint according to claim 3 including means 6. A hinge jointaccording to claim 5 including means for preventing relativelongitudinal movement of said members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,136,729 Stahl Nov. 15, 1938 2,199,102 Hough Apr. 30, 1940 2,641,018Snyder June 9, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 524,228 Great Britain Aug. 1, 1940588,493 Germany Nov. 23, 1933

